Machine for automatically forming projectiles



F. R. LONG May 4, 1943.

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING PROJECTILES Filed July 21, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 4, 1943. F. R. L-G 2,318,505

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING PROJECTILES Filed July 21, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 4, 1943. F. R. LONG MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING PROJECTILES Filed July 21, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 M mi May 4, 1943. F. R. LONG MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING PROJECTILES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 21, 1942 Fred R. 1/0/19- I I y/f 51% F. R. LONG May 4, 1943.-

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING PROJECTILES s Sheets-Shet 5 Filed July 21, 1942 nd R. 110160.

F. R. LONG May 4, 1943.

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING PROJECTILES Filed July 21, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fred R. Land.

midi/$ M; S

Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES ATENT QFFICE MAGHIN E FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING PROJECTILES Fred R. Long, Catawissa, Pa.

5 Application July 21, 1942, SerialNo. 451,753 '3 Claims. (ores-1.21)

"This :invention relates to metal rolling and :more particularly to a'machine for automatically handling and expeditiously forming shot; and shell bodies from round sections of bar stock ."of predetermined length and cross section according .to the specifications of the projectile to be made.

A zprimarylobjectof the invention is to utilize "metal saving and metal distributing rolling technique, as distinguished from wasteful turning practices, in the formation of projectiles wherein selected rolled bar :stock 50f 'less length but greater diameter than a pair of "finished shell bodies is :subjected to rolling pressure between two rolls having theiraxes lying in the same horizontal plane, not only simultaneously to form two connected bodies of projectile contour or profile in one rolling cycle, but, at the same time,

also simultaneously pierce opposite ends of the :blank to form explosive receiving cavities. That is :to say, thiscombined :rolling and piercing operation 'by :a pair of cylindrical rolls, contemplates subjecting the projectile blank to a rolling and :creasing operation between said rolls, each of which carry ontheir otherwise flat faces or peripheriesduplicate complemental projecting dieribs -each of which are of flaring width and graduallyrincreasing height fromone end to the other, and therefore of progressively increasing radius relative 'to thelaxis of each roll, the said rolls rotating in :the same direction and the die-ribs mmnng :in the opposite direction from toe to heel. The efiect of this structure and operationis twofold; first, by the rolling action the blank or *bar is creased at its central point producing the :conoid profile of the noses ofboth projectiles si- "m-ultaneous'ly and thereby redistributing the metal from the 'center o'f the blank toward the ends, thus not only saving metal but elongating the blank to the required shell length; and second, by reason of the tact that the adjacent 'faces'or peripheries of the rolls in the zone of the blank rotate in opposite directions and the top flat portions of the die-ribs are of progressively increasing radii relative to the radii of the roll Iaces, they, namely the die-ribs, tend to rotate the middle of the blank faster than the side portions thereof engaged .by the curved sections ofthe rib immediately adjacent thereto and fast- -.er than the bodyof theblan-k engaged by the flat faces-of the rolls at either side-"of the rib, thereby causing -a drag on the curved sections of the blank which imparts a slight spiral arrangement of the fibers of the metal to avoid rupture or breaking of the steel fibers, :such .for instance, aswou'ld occur in an upsetting machine. J

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of eccentric means at the ends .of one of the :roll shafts to move that rollin :closer proximity to its companion roll after the creasing operation in order to obtain a finished rolling of the projectile body "to bring the-same as closely as possible to the proper shape, :size, and diameter, thereby making it only necessary'to ifinish the projectile bodyby a grinding operation.

A further object is to provide a cam operated feeding device synchronized with one :of the :rolls to deliver projectile blanks singly. at the proper time in the rolling cycle to a rotatable support or anvil at the bottom of the pass between itwo rolls ;for presenting the 'blank :to the operation of the creasingdie-ribs, and also in position .for the piercing mandrels which .move inwardly simultaneously with the creasing .and rolling of :the blank.

With the above and other :objects in; view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine. I a

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken on the line-3--3 of Fig. 2, with :the blank feeding means poised for the delivery of a projectile blank. z Fig. 341. includes perspective views of the projectile-blank .before and after rolling.

Fig. 4 .is .a diagrammatic view illustrating th position of the rolls when the feeding mechanism has been tripped to deliver a blank to the receiving roll for transfer to the rolling :station.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic viewsimilar to Fig. 4 showing the relative position of the rolls as they start the creasing operation on the blank delivered by the receiving :roll while supporting the previously completed dual pre-formed projectile unit to a position to .be delivered from the machine. 7

Fig. 6 is a-partial detail perspective View of the delivery roll illustrating the transfer pocket.

Fig. '7 is a partial detail perspective view of the companion receiving roll illustrating the means for holding apiece'of ba'rzstock iorlowering to the rolling station.

Fig. 8 is :a detail perspective view :of the cam the gears 6 and I.

means at the ends of the shaft which supports the delivery roll for shifting the latter at the end of the creasing operation toward the receiving roll to impart a final reduction in diameter to the pre-formed shell bodies.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the cam means shown in Fig. 8 and the bearing or trunnion which receives the ends of the shafts of the delivery roll.

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line Ill-l of Fig.'9.

B and C 'journalled therein. These rolls may be respectively referred to for convenience as the receiving and delivery rolls and are of hollow formation, as indicated in the drawings, to save weight without sacrificing strength. The shaft B of the roll B is fixedly journalled in appropriate bearings in the walls I and 2 while the shaft 0' is provided with eccentric means, later to be described, to cause the roll 0 to move toward'the roll B near the end of each rolling cycle. l

' The shafts B and C' are respectively provided with'the gears 3 and '4 which mesh with an idler gear 5 mounted on a shaft 5a carrying These gears are powered by any suitable motor driven means which preferably includes a slip clutch 8 that will yield in the event the rolls or other mechanism become jammed through unforeseen conditions or accident. It will be apparent that the arrangement of gears described will operate the rolls B and C in the same direction but the adjacent peripheries of the rolls in the zone of the blank being operated on will rotate in opposite directions and the peripheries are spaced to provide a rolling zone of correct gauge for handling and rolling the bar stock or blank.

Each of the rolls B and C are provided with die-forming rib units generally designated as D. These units are of duplicate formation, and are of less length than the circumference of the rolls as will be clearly apparent from Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Since the rib units are of duplicate formation, and the manner of mounting each rib on the roll is the same in each instance, a description of one will suffice for the other. For

example, the said rib units include a body 9 made of spring steel and are adapted to be snapped and pressed into suitable cavities ID in the" surface of each roll. It will therefore be apparentthat the rib units may be removed and replaced which renders the use of interchangeable units of different rib contour to make different types of shell bodies. Each rib unit includes a forming rib l2 which increases in height and width from toe to heel as will be apparent from Figs. l1 to '14, inclusive. Also each rib unit is so positioned on its roll that the toe and heel of each rib are in perfect complemental relation throughout the portion of the cycle of the rolls during which the metal blank is the drawings, it 1-.

Fig. 11 is a flattened plan of one of the die- 7 being shaped. Between the toe and heel of each rib the roll is provided with a plain flat uninterrupted portion or land E which comes into play to give the shell casings their final or finishing rolling operation.

In the frame of the machine between the peripheries of each of the rolls B and C, and slightly below a, horizontal plane intersecting the shafts B and 0', there is journalled a supporting roller or rotating anvil 13. This roller has its medial portion reduced as shown in Fig.

2 and its projecting end trunnions M are suitably journalled in the top of the cross-piece l5 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) of the frame of the machine. This rotating anvil supports the bar blank at the bottom of the rolling zone throughout its rolling and piercing operation.

At each side of the frame or bed A, namely on the upper part of the side walls I and 2, there are provided suitable piercing means synchronized to pierce the bar stock while it is being rolled. This piercing means is duplicated at opposite sides of the machine and includes in each instance, a piercing mandrel l6 whose body is slidably journalled in a guide I! and urged in an outward direction by a coil spring l8. The end of each mandrel body beyond the spring is pivotally connected with a lever I9 whose free end cooperates with a cam 20 on the shaft 0' of the roll C. The cams 20 are so designed as to actuate the levers l9 against the force of the springs l8 at the appropriate point in the rolling or forming cycle previously described. For example, the piercing begins approximately when the companion or complemental forming ribs |2-l2 have moved through an arc equal to substantially one-half of their length, and are fully withdrawn by the time the rear or wide ends of the ribs |2-l2 lie opposite each other. 7

The cylindrical blanks of the bar stock F (Fig. 3a) are supplied to the machine by a novel feeding mechanism operating in conjunction with the so-called receiving roll B. Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that this feeding mechanism consists of a pair of upstanding bracket arms 2| mounted on the upper sides of the opposite frame parts I and 2 and having a shaft journalled therein. One end of this shaft projects beyond the face of its related bracket 'arm 2| and is bent into substantially right angular formation as shown in Fig. 1 to provide the cranked operating arm 23. The lower extremity of this arm is controlled by a cam 24 on the shaft ..B'. The portion of the shaft 22 between the bracket arms 2I-2l supports a blank holding frame designated generally as 25, the same being preferably keyed or otherwise secured to' the shaft 22 by the fastening 26. This frame is pro: vided at its forward ,end with a blank receiving cradle 21 while its rear end is provided with a weight 28 normally to rock the frame into a position in which the cradle will hold a blank. The cam 24 will rock or trip the frame 25, as will later appear, to drop the blank into the receiving sockets 25a at opposite sides of the roll B.

'As previously indicated, the roll C is eccentri-' cally mounted to give a final compression and reduction to the rolled and pierced dual unit. That is to say, after the creasing and twisting'operation as well as piercing has been completed and the fiat land portions E of each roll are adjacent each other, roll C is moved toward roll B so that said lands operate on the major diameter of the blank for the purpose of correcting'any inequalities that may be present in the bar stock, both :as to size .and shape. The means gbytwhich this result is .accomplishedis illustrated inzFigs. 18-110,

inclusive. :The .shaft C of the roll C is provided with duplicate hearings. in -.each .of the frame members .I and .2. Each hearing @consists =;of ;a main shaft portion 28 1(Figs. 8 .and 9;) which :is

concentric with the axis of theroll C and which has a slightly .loosefitJi-n the journal 30. ;At the side of the bearing :29 nearest .theroll, the said bearing :is provided with a camiorcccentric 3| in the form of a disc orcollaroperatingin (3011.111110- tion .Witha cam plate 32. As will be observed from Figs. 9 and the cam 3| is formed entirely within the circumference or periphery of the main bearing 29. The cam plate 32 is of the same width as the cam 3|, and as will be apparent from Fig. 10, projects into the cam cavity sufficiently to be engaged by the zenith of the cam 3| at the proper point in the cycle of rotation of the roll C and thus slightly move roll C toward roll B.

As will be apparent from Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, the so-called delivery roll C is provided with a pocket 33 for receiving the rolled and pierced blank when it is completed. The front wall 34 of this pocket is of less length than the width of the face of the roll C, thereby providing the recesses or clearances 35 extending rearwardly from the front edge of the wall 34 and at the side edges of the roll C. The purpose of this arrangement, namely the clearances 35 is to accommodate the substantially triangular ejector or transfer projections or cams 36 carried by opposite edge portions of the roll B, as shown in Fig. '7. These ejector cams have their relatively long inclined faces so arranged and timed with reference to the pocket 33 as to push the elongated and completely rolled and pierced unit from the roller l3 at the forming station into the pocket so that it will be lifted and carried out of the machine as a part of the synchronized operation of the various elements.

The operation of the machine is as follows;

Assuming that the rolls B and C are driven through the instrumentalities referred to and a blank of bar stock F (Figs. 1 and 3) is positioned in the cradle 21 of the frame 25, the cam 24 through the arm 23 will release the blank F as shown in Fig. 4 so that it will roll down a part of the surface of the roll B and be arrested and supported in the retaining sockets 25a. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and in full lines in Fig. 5 as the rollB moves further through its cycle, the blank F is lowered to and supported on the anvil roller, l3, and in position to be preliminarily engaged by the beginning of each "dieforming rib I2 on the respective rolls B and C as shown in Fig. 5.

As the rolls B and C proceed through their cycle, and the die-ribs move from toe to heel, the metal at the medial portion of the blank is creased, twisted and rolled or worked toward the ends of the blank. When the creasing is about half finished, the piercing mandrels I 6 are thrust inwardly through the operation of levers l9 and cams 20 so as to pierce the center of each'end of the blank simultaneously with its rolling. The piercing mandrels l6 completely recede as the wide part or heel of each rib completes the medial rolling of the blank.

When the wide end or heel of each rib has completed the creasing or rolling and lengthwise distribution of the metal, the shaft C of theroll C is shifted by the cam means 3l-32 toward the roll B so that the land E of each roll givesthe idu'alnmita final rolling :andisgueezing and-consequent greduction-dnldiameter fto 'the'js'pecified .SiZeLand shape.

1 the connected' sh-ell .zbndies are .thus

formed they have :sufiicient elongation to :projject laterally into the path .Of :the ipusher. cams or ejectors :36 ;on thenollB. i'Ihat is to say, the original relatively short blank, new :elongated by rolling, whileresting von'xthe anvil. roll l3 :at the bottom iOf the :roll pass. has its LOHlIET ends men-:-

.-:,*a.gedv by the long-inclined surfaces of tthe; .cams

or ejector :fingers .36 and is pushed pryshifte'd By keeping the cradle 2'! of the feeding frame 25 supplied with bar stock, the operations of rolling, piercing, and delivery are repeated in continuous cycle and as fast as the speed of operation of the rolls B and C will permit. Thus the machine is completely automatic in its operation upon being supplied with blanks in synchronism with the rolling cycle.

I claim:

1. In a machine for producing a pair of formed projectiles from a single blank, a receiving roll and a delivery roll each having flat peripheral faces spaced apart to provide a forming zone between the rolls and mounted to rotate so that said faces move in opposite directions, blank supporting means in the space between the rolls, cooperating die-ribs tapering vertically and horizontally from toe to heel and medially located over part of the periphery of the rolls, portions of said roll faces between the toe andheel of each rib providing a blank finishing land, means for moving one roll toward the other when said lands come into registry, means for simultaneously piercing the opposite ends of the blank while the latter is being subjected to rolling by said die-ribs, cooperating means on said rolls for removing a pierced blank, and blank feeding means synchronized with the receiving roll for supplying blanks to said forming zone between the rolls.

2. In a machine for producing a pair of formed projectiles from a single blank. a pair of cylindrical rolls having their adjacent peripheries spaced apart, a blank support in the space between the rolls and cooperating therewith to provide a forming zone, medially disposed dieribs carried by corresponding portions of said rolls, said rolls being mounted on horizontal shafts and driven in the same direction, means located above the blank support for piercing opposite ends of a blank being operated upon by said ribs, means for moving the shaft of one roll toward the other after the die-ribs have completed rolling and near the completion of the common forming cycle of both rolls, and means operated by the shaft of the other roll for feeding blanks to said forming zone.

3. In a machine for rolling projectiles, a receiving roll and a delivery roll each mounted on a horizontal shaft and having their adjacent peripheries spaced apart, a rolling anvil mounted in the space between the rolls and cooperating therewith to provide a rolling station, means for driving said rolls in the same direction so that their adjacent peripheries move in opposite directions, complemental die-ribs on the periphery of each roll and said ribs tapering rearwardly both vertically and laterally from toe to heel, said ribs being of less length than the circumference of their related rolls, a pair of spring retracted piercing mandrels located axially of the position of a blank supported on said anvil, cam means on the shaft of the delivery roll for operating said piercing mandrels, a pocket on the delivery roll, ejector means on the receiving roll for displacing a rolled projectile unit from the rolling anvil into said pocket, inwardly facing blank-retaining sockets at opposite sides of the receiving roll, a blank feeding frame including a blank receiving cradle, cooperating cam means on the frame and the shaft of the receiving roll to tilt said frame and thereby release a blank into said retaining sockets, and means for mounting the shaft of the delivery roll to move it toward the receiving roll near the end of each forming cycle of both rolls.

, FRED R. LONG. 

